Wind turbine system

ABSTRACT

Wind turbine system, and related method, is provided that exploits an aerodynamically enhanced wind zone of a structure by aligning a wind turbine generator, and preferably a plurality thereof, along a wall thereof. Each generator includes a structural support, a wind turbine rotor and a generator set. The system includes a mounting assembly that attaches the generators to the upper edge of a wall of the building and that allows for easy retrofit attachment to existing structures. The system includes a busway extending along the mounting assembly and configured to provide electrical contact between the generator assembly and the electrical infrastructure of the building. Preferably, the generator assembly is mounted such that the rotor&#39;s axis of rotation is in a generally horizontal orientation. The system may further include a fairing attached to the mounting assembly and configured to extend outward from a front side of the wall. The fairing can be provided with a downwardly curved planar shape to facilitate airflow towards the rotors.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to wind turbines and, moreparticularly, to wind turbines for use in small-scale applications. Thepresent invention also relates to a method of using wind turbines insmall-scale applications.

Electrical generation from environmentally friendly sources, or“alternative energy sources,” has long been a goal of many, for bothenvironmental and economic concerns. Wind-powered generators have beenused for this purpose. Generally speaking, wind turbines transfer thewind's kinetic energy into electrical energy. This has been achieved byexposing a rotor to wind. The rotor turns a generator typically mountedaft of the rotor, driving the generator to create electricity. The rotorand generator combination (i.e., wind turbine generator) is mounted atthe top of a tower high above the ground to expose it to high winds. Thetower is attached to a foundation and is configured to enduresignificant structural loads.

Government incentives exist promoting the use of alternative sources ofelectricity, in both utility-scale and small-scale applications. Windturbine generators have been particularly successful in utility-scaleapplications. In such applications, fields of large wind turbinegenerators are used. These wind turbines can exceed a height of 200feet. Some utility-scale installations generate in excess of 100megawatts. However, such installations are very costly. A number offactors must properly align to make such an investment worthwhile,including location, government incentives, electricity costs, andturbine costs. Thus, utility-scale installations can play an important,but not exclusive role, as an alternative source of electricity.

Wind turbine generators have also been used in small-scale applications,typically ranging between 50 watts and 100 kilowatts. Even forsmall-scale applications, a number of factors must be satisfied to makethe investment worthwhile. For example, proper location and mounting ofwind generators can be an issue. In many current approaches, a single,relatively small, wind turbine is mounted on a tower away from otherstructures such that the turbine is spaced away from turbulent flowcaused by such structures. Thus, current approaches are typicallylimited to rural settings and are impractical in many other settings.

It should, therefore, be appreciated that there exists a need for a windturbine system for use in small-scale applications in a broad range ofsettings, including industrial settings, that is cost-effective,environmentally safe, and does not hamper other systems. The presentinvention fulfills this need and others.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is embodied in a wind turbine system that exploits anaerodynamically enhanced wind zone of a building by aligning a windturbine generator, and preferably a plurality thereof, along the leadingedge of its roofline. Each generator includes a structural support, awind turbine rotor, and a generator set. The system includes a mountingassembly that attaches the generators to the upper edge of a wall of thebuilding and that allows for easy retrofit attachment to existingstructures. The system includes a busway extending along the mountingassembly and configured to provide electrical contact between thegenerator assembly and the electrical infrastructure of the building.

Preferably, the generator assembly is mounted such that the rotor's axisof rotation is in a generally horizontal orientation. The system mayfurther include a fairing, attached to the mounting assembly andconfigured to extend outward from a front side of the wall. The fairingcan be provided with a downwardly curved planar shape to facilitateairflow towards the rotors.

In a preferred embodiment, the wall attachment includes front and reararms spaced are apart from one another to receive the upper end of thewall. The mounting assembly can further include a compression plateconfigured to securely engage the rear side of the wall and adjustablyattached to the rear arm of the wall attachment.

In another preferred embodiment, the wall attachment includes a rear armconfigured to be secured directly to the rear side of the wall.

For purposes of summarizing the invention and the advantages achievedover the prior art, certain advantages of the invention have beendescribed herein above. Of course, it is to be understood that notnecessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with anyparticular embodiment of the invention. Thus, for example, those skilledin the art will recognize that the invention may be embodied or carriedout in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group ofadvantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving otheradvantages as may be taught or suggested herein.

All of these embodiments are intended to be within the scope of theinvention herein disclosed. These and other embodiments of the presentinvention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art fromthe following detailed description of the preferred embodiments havingreference to the attached figures, the invention not being limited toany particular preferred embodiment disclosed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way ofexample only, with reference to the following drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a rear elevational view of a first embodiment of a windturbine system in accordance with the present invention, depicting agenerator and mounting assembly for compression mounting to a wall.

FIG. 2 is elevational view of the mounting assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the wind turbine system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the mounting assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a rear view of a second embodiment of a wind turbine system inaccordance with the invention, depicting wind generators and mountingassembly including expansion bolts for mounting to the wall.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the wind turbine system of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the mounting assembly of the wind turbinesystem of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a rear view of the busway of the wind turbine system of FIG.1.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view depicting two generators mounted to a wallof a building in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view depicting a plurality of wind generatorsmounted to a wall of a building in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 11 is a rear view of the wind generators of FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is a rear view of the wind generators of FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the illustrative drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1,there is shown a wind turbine system 10, including a generator 12 and amounting assembly 14 for attaching the assembly to a wall 16. The windturbine system preferably includes a plurality of wind turbinegenerators attached along a leading edge of a vertical wall, therebyexploiting an enhanced wind zone created as wind accelerates over thewall. Each generator includes a wind turbine rotor 18 and generator set(not shown) disposed in a structural support, e.g., box housing 20. Therotor drives the generator set, inducing the generation of electricalcurrent. Each generator is configured to generate power in a range ofabout 50–100 watts and is in electrical contact with a DC busway 22 byan interconnect, e.g., plug 24. The DC busway feeds power to aninverter/controller (not shown) that interfaces with the buildingelectricity infrastructure. Thus, the mounting assembly serves as both astructural and an electrical interface between the building and thegenerators. Moreover, the system can be easily scaled for use in manydifferent installations.

With reference now to FIGS. 2–4, the mounting assembly 14 allows foreasy retrofit attachment to existing structures. In the exemplaryembodiment, the mounting assembly includes a U-shaped wall attachment 26having front and rear arms 25, 27, respectively, that straddle the upperend of the wall. A compression plate 28 is attached to the rear arm ofthe wall attachment by mounting bolts 30. Upon tightening the mountingbolts, the wall is sandwiched between the compression plate and thefirst arm of the wall attachment, providing a secure compressionattachment to the wall. In this embodiment, each generator is attachedto the wall, using two wall attachments. The busway 22 extends along arearward side of the wall, attached to the rear arms of each of the wallattachments.

The mounting assembly 14 includes breakaway plates 34 disposed betweenthe generator and each wall attachment. The plates define a channel 35configured to receive the lower end 37 of the housing 20. The channeland the lower end are cooperatively configured to facilitate removableattachment. The plates are affixed to the wall attachments by breakawaytabs 36. In the present embodiment, four tabs are used, two on eachlongitudinal side of the breakaway plates. The tabs are configured torelease the plate from wall attachment when under excessive forces. Inthis manner, the generator system will not transfer excessive loads(e.g., earthquake loads) that may be damaging to the wall. The tabs canbe designed so that side forces are controlled so that the generatorsystem will favor falling onto the roof.

With continued reference to FIGS. 1–4, the generator system includes afairing 38 extending from the front side of the vertical wall 16. In theexemplary embodiment, the system is mounted to a wall having alength-to-height ratio of at least 5:1. For example, wind flow normal tovery long commercial/warehouse buildings can result in two-dimensionalflow characteristics over the top of the buildings. The generator systemis mounted to the leading edge of the roofline to take advantage of anenhanced wind zone created as wind accelerates over the wall. When windencounters the wall, it will accelerate at the roofline by 15 to 20percent over the ambient wind flow. By exploiting this aerodynamicallyenhanced wind zone, site feasibility is greatly enhanced. The fairingaids in directing wind flow towards the rotors and preventing updraftfrom the leading wall of the building influencing the flow into therotor, creating excessive turbulence. Also, each generator assembly caninclude grills (not shown) on its front and back sides. The grillsprotect the rotor from object strikes. They also obscure the rotors fromview and inhibit glare off the rotors.

The rotor 18 is mounted within the housing 20 such that its axis ofrotation is generally horizontally oriented. In the exemplaryembodiment, the rotor is about four feet in diameter and includes fourblades; however, the number, size and aerodynamic configuration of theblades can be optimized for different installation needs. Rotation ofthe rotor drives the generator set, inducing the generation ofelectrical current. The generator set can be aligned along the rotor'saxis of rotator or otherwise in mechanical connection to the rotor. Forexample, the generator set can be mounted at the hub of the rotor, orplaced in the periphery of the housing connect to the rotor by a chainor other motive connection.

The generator set converts mechanical energy from the rotor's rotationinto electrical energy. Generally speaking, the generator set includesan electrical generator, e.g., alternator, and associated electronics toconform the generated electricity within prescribed parameters. Variousother generator configurations known in the art can be used, such asthose available from Southwest Windpower Inc., of Flagstaff, Ariz.Selection of a particular generator configuration can be based upon anumber of factors and trade-offs, such as cost, efficiency, prevailingwind parameters, electrical power requirements, and size.

For example, in the exemplary embodiment, the generator set can includea three-phase brushless permanent magnet alternator, along withassociated electronics to rectify the power to direct current and avoltage regulator to keep voltage from rising over a set point such as48 volts. At a continuous wind speed of 20 mph, the generator cangenerate about 200 watts of direct current at a regulated voltage of 48volts. Since power equals voltage multiplied by current, each windturbine in this example would provide a direct current of about 4.2amps. The electrical flow from numerous individual wind turbines can beaccumulated by connection to the busway 22. In this embodiment, thebusway preferably includes embedded electronics to restrict the flow ofelectricity in one direction. For example, with 50 small wind turbinesattached to a single busway, there will be 10 kilowatts of power, at 48volts and 210 amps flowing through the busway. An electrical junctionbox can be positioned at the end of the busway to receive thiselectricity and direct it, as needed, such as to another electricalinfrastructure (power line), an electrical storage device (battery) orto a motor via standard off-the-shelf circuitry specified for eachreceiving application.

With reference now to FIGS. 5–7, another embodiment of a mountingassembly 14′ is shown. This embodiment includes a wall attachment 40having a rear arm configured to be attached to the wall 16 by expansionbolts 42. As best seen in FIG. 7, in this embodiment the wall attachmentdoes not have a front arm, however, one can be provided as needed. Tabs36 extend between a horizontal portion of the wall attachment and thebreakaway plate 34. The tabs configured as discussed above. In thisembodiment, the fairing is configured to extend directly from thehorizontal portion of the wall attachment.

With reference now to FIG. 8, the busway 22 can include a plurality ofsections 23 connected by the interconnects 32, allowing for ease ofassembly and maintenance. In certain embodiments, the system can includecommercially available busway systems, such as those from Zucchini S pA., of Brescia, Italy. The sections include an outer casing 50 housingconductive bars 52. The outer casing can be made of galvanized steel orother protective materials and, in the exemplary embodiment, the outercasing provides an IP 55 protection level. Each section includes fiveconductive bars 52 extending the length thereof. In this embodiment, theconductive bars are formed of aluminum; however, other conductivematerials can be used. The sections define plug openings 46 spaced alongthe length thereof for receiving plugs 24 of the generators 12 toprovide electrical conductivity to the conductive bars. The plugs areconfigured to connect to the bars in two pairs of two bars, with thefifth bar used as a ground. In the exemplary embodiment, the conductivebars are rated for about 160 amperes, and the plugs are each rated forabout 32 amperes. Section interconnects 32 join adjacent sections andare configured to maintain electrical conductive of the conductive barsthrough the entire length of the busway. In other embodiments, adjacentsections of the busway can be configured to connect to each otherwithout the need of separate interconnects. The busway configuration canbe varied to accommodate structural and electrical requirements ofparticular embodiments.

Various system installations in accordance with the present inventionare shown in FIGS. 9–12. The system can be easily scaled to meet auser's particular needs and can otherwise be tailored for a specificbuilding and other parameters. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 12, the systemcan be sized to extend length of the wall or, as shown in FIGS. 9 and11, can be selectively located with a prescribed number of generatorassemblies, as desired.

It should be appreciated from the foregoing that the present inventionprovides a wind turbine system, and related method, that exploits anaerodynamically enhanced wind zone of a building by aligning a windturbine generator, and preferably a plurality thereof, along the leadingedge of its roofline. Each generator includes a structural support, awind turbine rotor and a generator set. The system includes a mountingassembly that attaches the generators to the upper edge of a wall of thebuilding and that allows for easy retrofit attachment to existingstructures. The system includes a busway extending along the mountingassembly and configured to provide electrical contact between thegenerator assembly and the electrical infrastructure of the building.Preferably, the generator assembly is mounted such that the rotor's axisof rotation is in a generally horizontal orientation. The system mayfurther include a fairing attached to the mounting assembly andconfigured to extend outward from a front side of the wall. The fairingcan be provided with a downwardly curved planar shape to facilitateairflow towards the rotors.

Although the invention has been disclosed in detail with reference onlyto the preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciatethat various other embodiments of can be provided without departing fromthe scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is defined onlyby the claims set forth below.

1. A wind turbine system for mounting atop a vertical wall of astructure having an electrical infrastructure, comprising: a pluralityof generator assemblies, each generator assembly having a structuralsupport, a rotor mounted for rotation to the structural support, and anelectric generator driven by the rotor to generate an electricalcurrent; and a mounting assembly disposed between the plurality ofgenerator assemblies and an upper end of the wall for mounting thegenerator assemblies to the wall, the mounting assembly including anelongated busway extending along the mounting assembly and configured toprovide electrical contact between the plurality of generator assembliesand the electrical infrastructure of the structure.
 2. A wind turbinesystem as defined in claim 1, wherein each generator assembly includesan interconnect for removable attachment to the busway.
 3. A windturbine system as defined in claim 1, wherein each interconnect of theplurality of generator assemblies is configured for snap-fit attachmentto the busway such that the interconnect can be positioned along thebusway while maintaining electrical contact with the busway.
 4. A windturbine system as defined in claim 1, wherein the mounting assembly isconfigured to mount each of the plurality of generators adjacent to oneanother.
 5. A wind turbine system as defined in claim 1, wherein themounting assembly defines a channel on the upper end thereof, and eachgenerator assembly includes a lower end configured for snap-fitattachment into the channel.
 6. A wind turbine system as defined inclaim 1, the mounting assembly further including a plurality of wallattachments, each wall attachment disposed between the upper end of thewall and one of the plurality of generator assemblies.
 7. A wind turbinesystem as defined in claim 6, wherein the mounting assembly defines achannel on the upper end thereof, and each generator assembly includes alower end configured for snap-fit attachment into the channel such thatthe rotor's axis of rotation is in a generally horizontal orientation.8. A wind turbine system for mounting atop a vertical wall of astructure having an electrical infrastructure, comprising: a generatorassembly having a structural support, a rotor mounted for rotation inthe structural support, and an electric generator driven by the rotor togenerate an electrical current; and a mounting assembly for mounting thegenerator assembly to the wall, including a wall attachment having reararm configured to be secured to a rear side of an upper end of the wall,a plate disposed between the generator assembly and the wall attachment,a plurality of breakaway tabs attached to both the wall attachment andthe plate, the breakaway tabs are configured to release the plate fromwall attachment when exposed to a prescribed amount of force, and abusway extending along the mounting assembly and configured toelectrical contact between the generator assembly and the electricalinfrastructure of the structure.
 9. A wind turbine system as defined inclaim 8, further comprising wherein a fairing attached to the mountingassembly and configured to extend outward from a front side of the wall.10. A wind turbine system as defined in claim 8, wherein the generatorassembly is mounted such that the rotor's axis of rotation is in agenerally horizontal orientation.
 11. A wind turbine system as definedin claim 10, wherein the fairing has a downwardly curved planar shape.12. A wind turbine system as defined in claim 8, further comprising: aplurality of generator assemblies, each generator assembly having astructural support, a rotor mounted for rotation in the structuralsupport, and an electric generator driven by the rotor to generate anelectrical current; wherein the generators assemblies are mounted to thewall by at least one wall attachment having front and rear arms spacedapart from on another to receive an upper end of the wall and thegenerator assemblies are each configured to be in electrical contactwith the electrical infrastructure of the structure via the busway. 13.A wind turbine system as defined in claim 12, wherein the wallattachment further includes a front arm configured to engage a frontside of the upper end of the wall, wherein the front and rear armsspaced are apart from on another to receive the upper end of the wall.14. A wind turbine system as defined in claim 13, wherein the mountingassembly further includes a compression plate configured to securelyengage the rear side of the wall and adjustably attached to the rear armof the wall attachment.
 15. A wind turbine system as defined in claim12, wherein the rear arm of the wall attachment is configured to besecured directly to the rear side of the wall.
 16. A wind turbine systemfor mounting atop a vertical wall of a structure having an electricalinfrastructure, comprising: a plurality of generator assemblies, eachgenerator assembly having a structural support, a rotor mounted forrotation in the structural support, and an electric generator driven bythe rotor to generate an electrical current; and a mounting assembly formounting the pluralities of generator assemblies along the wall,including a plurality of wall attachment, each having front and reararms spaced apart from on another to receive an upper end of the wall, aplurality of plates, each disposed between a corresponding generatorassembly and a corresponding wall attachment, a fairing attached to themounting assembly and configured to extend outward from a front side ofthe wall, a plurality of breakaway tab, each tab attached to both thecorresponding wall attachment and plate, the breakaway tabs areconfigured to release the plate from wall attachment when exposed to aprescribed amount of force, and a busway extending along the mountingassembly and configured to electrical contact between the plurality ofgenerator assemblies and the electrical infrastructure of the structure.17. A wind turbine system as defined in claim 16, wherein each wallattachment defines a channel on the upper end thereof, and eachgenerator assembly includes a lower end configured for snap-fitattachment into the channel such that the rotor's axis of rotation is ina generally horizontal orientation.
 18. A method of generatingelectrical power, comprising: positioning a wind turbine system at thetop of a vertical wall of a structure, the wall having a length toheight ratio of at least 5:1, such that the wind turbine system isexposed to wind traveling over the wall, the wind turbine systemincluding a plurality of generator assemblies, each generator assemblyhaving a structural support, a rotor mounted for rotation to thestructural support, and an electric generator driven by the rotor togenerate an electrical current upon rotation of the rotor; and amounting assembly disposed between the plurality of generator assembliesand an upper end of the wall for mounting the of generator assemblies tothe wall, the mounting assembly including an elongated busway extendingalong the mounting assembly and configured to provide electrical contactbetween the plurality of generator assemblies and the electricalinfrastructure of the structure.
 19. A method as defined in claim 18,wherein the wind turbine system is mounted along a leading edge of aroofline of the structure.